Nanking Official on Direct Negotiations Principle Nanking, May 3.
Rumours are in circulation here to the effect that, following the return to Peking of Mr. Huang Fu, chairman of the Peking Political Council, steps will be taken to settle Sino-Japanese questions first by local discussion and then by the institution of direct diplomatic negotiations.
this connection, the official Central News Agency quotes a high official to the following effect "Regarding Sino-Japanese questions of a strictly local character, there is no reason' why they should not be settled locally. If, Japan really accepts our principle of neither ceding territory nor allowing our rights to be injured, then direct negotiations may prove one fof the ways of settling impending {ssues, These remarks pertain to a question of principle, whereas, point of fact, our Government at present has not reached any fresh decision regarding a, settlement of /Sino-Japanese issues."
The official added that he was not aware when Mr, Huang Fu was returning to Peking—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.